South Africa is developing drones for the mining industry. For inspections, in potentially unsafe areas underground, removing the need to put humans in harm’s way, an industry conference heard on Thursday.
Fred Cawood, the director of the Mining Institute at Johannesburg’s University of the With Waters and, told the conference that drones were being developed to send to danger zones beneath the surface.
“It is to use the machine in areas where people should not be,” Cawood told Reuters on the sidelines of the conference.
South Africa’s mines are the deepest and among the most dangerous in the world. Safety is a huge concern for the government, unions, and boardrooms in the world’s top platinum producer.
Cawood mentioned that the team was actively working on a pioneering prototype that incorporated advanced video cameras into its design. The unique prototype, with a diameter of 40 cm (equivalent to 16 inches), was specifically engineered to accommodate these high-tech features. Remarkably, this innovative tool could effortlessly be managed remotely from a designated control room situated on the surface, showcasing the remarkable fusion of cutting-edge technology and realistic capability.
“It cannot be very big to operate in the tunnels,” he said.
Drones may be efficiently deployed to investigate the stop area immediately following blasting operations, serving the essential motive of verifying the safety conditions prior to recommencing work activities. Not only can drones assess and verify the absence of any ability risks, but they can also play a important role in determining out the feasibility of dispatching rescue groups inside the event of a disaster, ensuring that such efforts are finished in a secure and systematic manner.
Cawood, a key participant inside the field, noted that he become seeking to secure financial support to propel the commercialization of modern-day drone technology in collaboration with the respected South Africa’s Mine Health and Safety Council, showcasing a robust commitment to advancing protection and efficiency inside the mining industry.
